Jay Harris (boxer)


Jay Harris is a Welsh former professional boxer. He twice held the European flyweight title as well as being British and Commonwealth champion. Harris also challenged for the World Boxing Council flyweight title in 2020.

Early life

Harris was born on 25 August 1990 in Swansea, growing up in the Townhill area of the city. He is the son of former British featherweight champion, Peter Harris, who is also his trainer. Harris began boxing at the age of 12 after going to the gym with a friend. Alongside boxing, he works part-time at Amazon.

Professional career

Harris made his professional debut on 27 July 2013 at the Newport Centre, Wales, scoring a four-round points decision victory over Brett Fidoe.
After compiling a record of 9–0, he challenged Thomas Essomba for the Commonwealth flyweight title on 24 February 2017 at the York Hall, London. The fight was televised live on BoxNation, with Harris winning via unanimous decision over twelve rounds. The judges' scorecards read 117–112, 116–113 and 115–114. Following three more wins, one by knockout, he made the first defence of his Commonwealth title against Ross Murray on 3 November 2018 at the York Hall. Harris successfully retained his title with a third-round technical knockout.
After a six-round PTS win over Brett Fidoe in March 2019, he next fought former world title challenger Angel Moreno on 1 June at the Vale Sports Arena in Cardiff, with the vacant European flyweight title on the line. All three judges scored the bout in favour of Harris, with the scorecards reading 120–108, 119–109 and 117–111, awarding Harris the European title via UD.
Four months later, he faced two-time Olympic bronze medalist and former world title challenger Paddy Barnes on 11 October at the Ulster Hall, Belfast, for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental flyweight title. The fight was streamed live on ESPN+ in the United States and globally through YouTube channel iFL TV, with Harris capturing his third professional title with a fourth-round KO. Harris, being the bigger of the two, used the height and reach difference to his advantage, boxing at range with sharp jabs and straight right hands. In the final 60 seconds of round one, Harris landed a straight right hand to stun Barnes and send the former three-time Olympian reeling into the ropes. After a follow-up attack by Harris, Barnes fired back with a rapid ten punch combination, all of which were taken on the gloves by Harris. Round two saw much of the same, Harris staying at range, continuing to land jabs and straight right hands to the head with Barnes having little success. The third was an action packed round. With Harris electing to fight at close quarters, Barnes began finding the target with hooks to the head and body, opening a cut above Harris' right eye. In the final minute of the round, Harris landed a left hook to the body that dropped Barnes to undo the Irishman's previous success. He raised to his feet before the referee's count of ten to see out the remainder of the round. The end came in the round four. With Harris going back to fighting at range, Barnes took punishment throughout, finally being dropped with a left hook to the midsection. Unable to beat the count of ten, the fight was stopped with 48 seconds remaining.
Harris was scheduled to challenge the WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez on 29 February 2020, at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, his first fight outside of the British Isles. Martinez justified his role as the 7/1 favorite, beating Harris by unanimous decision, with scores of 118-109, 116-111, and 115-112. Harris suffered a cut above his left eye in the second round, and was knocked down in the tenth round.
Harris faced the former BBBofC English flyweight champion Marcel Braithwaite on 18 October 2020, at the Production Park Studios in South Kirkby, England. Harris won the fight by a dominant unanimous decision, with scores of 98-92, 98-93 and 97-93. After successfully rebounding from his first professional loss, Harris was scheduled to face Ricardo Rafael Sandoval in an IBF flyweight title eliminator, in the main event of a DAZN card, on 25 June 2021. Although he entered the bout as a slight betting favorite, Harris lost the fight by an eight round knockout. Harris was knocked down twice in the eight round, both time with body strikes, with Harris failing to rise in time to beat the eight count following the second knockdown.
Harris faced the undefeated Hector Gabriel Flores for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental light-flyweight title on 26 November 2021, in the main event of an MTF Fight Night event. Harris lost the fight by a sixth-round knockout. Just as in his previous bout, he was dropped twice with body strikes, and failed to beat the count after the second knockdown.
He announced his retirement from professional boxing on 11 February 2025.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
24Win21–3Connor ButlerUD1224 Feb 2024Olympia, Liverpool, EnglandRetained the British flyweight title and won the European and Commonwealth flyweight titles
23Win20–3Tommy FrankTKO10, 1:335 May 2023Magna Centre, Rotherham, EnglandWon British flyweight title
22Win19–3Alejandro TorresTKO4, 0:5511 Jun 2022Ware-House Gym, Swansea, Wales
21Loss18–3Hector Gabriel FloresKO6, 1:3226 Nov 2021Vale Sports Arena, Cardiff, WalesFor WBA Inter-Continental light-flyweight title
20Loss18–2Ricardo Rafael SandovalKO8, 2:1225 Jun 2021Bolton Whites Hotel, Bolton, England
19Win18–1Marcel BraithwaiteUD1018 Oct 2020Production Park Studios, South Kirkby, England
18Loss17–1Julio Cesar MartinezUD1229 Feb 2020The Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, Texas, USFor WBC flyweight title
17Win17–0Paddy BarnesKO4, 2:1411 Oct 2019Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern IrelandWon vacant IBF Inter-Continental flyweight title
16Win16–0Angel MorenoUD121 Jun 2019Vale Sports Arena, Cardiff, WalesWon vacant European flyweight title
15Win15–0Brett FidoePTS61 Mar 2019Vale Sports Arena, Cardiff, Wales
14Win14–0Ross MurrayTKO3, 2:483 Nov 2018York Hall, London, EnglandRetained Commonwealth flyweight title
13Win13–0Cristian NarvaezPTS611 Aug 2018Llandarcy Academy of Sport, Neath, Wales
12Win12–0Gyula DoduKO2, 0:2913 Nov 2017Hilton Hotel, London, England
11Win11–0Michael BarnorPTS622 Jul 2017LC2, Swansea, Wales
10Win10–0Thomas Essomba1224 Feb 2017York Hall, London, EnglandWon Commonwealth flyweight title
9Win9–0Phil SmithTKO4, 2:0426 Nov 2016Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales
8Win8–0Ramesh AhmadiKO3, 0:5516 Jul 2016Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff, Wales
7Win7–0David KoosTKO3 23 Nov 2015Hilton Hotel, London, England
6Win6–0Tibor NadoriKO1, 1:3517 Jul 2015York Hall, London, England
5Win5–0Stefan Slavchev3, 2:2914 Feb 2015Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England
4Win4–0Francis Croes4, 1:3327 Oct 2014Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, England
3Win3–0Ricky LeachPTS41 Aug 2014Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England
2Win2–0Gary ReevePTS429 Mar 2014Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, England
1Win1–0Brett Fidoe427 Jul 2013Newport Centre, Newport, Wales